The Story of Abdulaeu Seratzhuddin
The
year was 1993 and Adbulaeu and family (wife and daughter)
decided to travel to Ukraine to visit brother, they are
all Muslim. The brother lived in Dagestan village, 15 km
from Teplick village. (The church in this village receives
BOL boxes)
In
order to get to Ukraine, from Kazakhstan they needed to
travel by train through Chechnya and on to Ukraine. They
had enough money to travel to and from without problems.
When
arriving in Ukraine they stayed 7 months with the brother
and family. They could stay no longer due to “bad”
relationship with the brother’s wife, she is Ukrainian.
Meantime
war broke out in Chechnya, the capitol Grozney was where
the train went through to get back to Kazakhstan. They
considered flying back home but cost $1000 dollars for the
family to fly home. Train took 8 days and cost much less!
During
the stay in Ukraine, 1994 a son was born to this family.
He
was in the hospital sick for 4 months, during this time
the village people brought food to the hospital and
family.
Abdulaeu
was drinking heavily; they had no way to earn a living and
finally ended up in a deserted home in Markiva village,
Teplick region 18 km from brother. The house is
indescribable, when deserted it has little to nothing for
shelter and furniture. They had some sort of “cold
lung” problem. Abdulaeu with his drinking was lying in
the snow and drunk much of the time and was treating his
wife and children badly.
The
first time he came to church in Teplik village Abdulaeu
says: “I felt Spirit of God on me. Saw bible and thought
church is part of God. (There was no Muslim place of
worship in the area.)”
The
Pastor tells that he came every Sunday for 6 months,
walking 4 km from his village, and after that time the
family started to come and repented.” (They moved to
another home in 1995 only 4 km from church.)
In
1997 he started to share his testimony, offered to have
evangelistic meeting in his village, summer club for the
children, and in the winter clubs in his home.
To
share his faith he has sent bibles to Dagestan village for
his brother, dad and uncle. He also has a brother in
Moscow and sent him a bible.
Father’s
response: “You are not my son.”
Uncle’s
response: “You are a traitor!”
In
1998-1999 Abdulaeu wife’s mother came to visit. When
seeing how Abdulaeu behavior toward his wife and children.
Mom asked for a bible for herself. Told the family,
“continue to go to church but don’t tell the
relation.”
In
2000 he went to Bible School in Kiev for 3 years. He
became a leader in the church and is always ready to serve
as is his wife.
Abdulaeu
shares how very nervous he was at not being able to get
back home but now very thankful for he found GOD. He was
chosen to become a deacon and associate pastor.
People
respect him very much.
We
visited with the family in 2008 and what a joy it was for
us to hear his testimony, see his home and desire to serve
in so many ways. For sure he made an impact on my life and
walk. His faith, trust, and outreach to the village where
he lives, is an amazing work of the Lord in Ukraine.
BOL
continues to ship boxes to Teplick Church and the gifts
are used for outreach to children and families. One of the
unique gifts they have been allowed to have in the village
is a sports program with children,, but need to provide
all the clothing and equipment. BOL has been able to send
those things as they have been donated. The church has a
passion for evangelism and outreach into the neighboring
villages as well. We are thrilled to be able to provide
for them gifts to share. Just a reminder of how GOD is
working in lives in a small village in Ukraine using BOL
and churches for the kingdom.
